Omaha daily bee., 1887-09-24
PERUVIAN BARK,
Labors and Perils OF the Bark
Gatherers of the Andes

Says Mrs. G. E. Bamford in the New
York Independents: Complaint has often
been made at the high price at which
Quinine is sold by physicians and apOthe-
carries, but when it is known how much
toll, fatigue and hardship it has cost to
secure this invaluable medicine from the
South American forests one in need of
the drug should be thankful that it can be
obtained at any cost.
The bark gatherers are called cascar.
rilloros. At the commencement of the
dry season, about the 1st or middle of
May, a company of cascarrill-
merchant or firm are sent
into the uninhabited wilderness, under
leader called a majordOmo, to labor in
the forest until the fail. Each person
buys provisions for his own use tor the
season, and conveys it on mule. back to
his destination 1t requires great bravery
and endurance to face the hardships be-
fore the party, but many OF the bark
gatherers are Indians and MeztizOes, and
have been used to this labor from boy.
hood. The changeable climate and dan
ger of fever and running short of food
they are also accustomed to.
The party roam about until a sufficient
number of trees are found in the vicinity
to make it practicable to settle down and
establish camp in suitable place. A
small house is built for sleeping purposes
and for covering the bark that it may not
be exposed to AN occasional shower of
rain. The party is now ten or twelve
days journey from the starting point,
and they claim the forests for many
miles around. no other bark-gatherers
being allowed in the neighborhood for
the season,
When the rude shed or house is com
pleted, the maiordomo divides the casca
rillerous, and sends out little parties IN
different directions with sufficient food
long absence. From each eminence
the surrounding forests are scanned fol
q sight of the cinchona. Experience and
observation have made it possible for the
men to distinguish the tree at a great dis
tance, not only from its greater height
than surrounding forest trees, but from
the light green smooth leaves, with here
and there yellow leaf. Speaking of the
bark -gatherers of Peru, a traveller says
that standing on one side of ravine, the
men count the cost of the opposite side
or they climb to the toOs of lOftiest tree.
and survey the country around for Gin
chona."
The men are judges Of the proper age
at which tree may be deprived of it,
purpose. Having selected a tree it i:
sometimes cut as near foreground as pos
sible and the bark taken off; at other
times the tree is made barkless while
standing. Cutting IS usually considered
the better way, that the stump may put
forth more leaves and again grow up
while barkless tree is sure to die.
After telling, lncis!ons are made
through the trunk bark, uD fifteen OF
twenty inches in length, by three or -four
inches broad and the pieces are removed
by knife or other instrument Some
times the bark is not separated for three
or four days after the cutting. When
taken from the tree the pieces are placed
| in some spot exposed to the rays of the
sun, and are laid into piles, one ovel
another to dry, while weight of some
kind holds the pile in place, the bark nat.
| urally inclinIng to roll while drying
| The bark from the smaller branches Il
allowed to curl or become "9uilled' al
| it dries.
| When dry the cascarrillero loads tht
bark upon his own back and picks hi
| way along now on the dizzy heights
then through painless woods, or up ant
down the steep mountain sides, until thu
distant camping grounds are reached. 4
woodman may be able to cut two qulntals
two hundred pounds. Of park per day
daying and being made ready for thu
market. The best bark is taken from
the trunk, the second quality come
from the larger branches and the leas
valuable is peeled from the small
branches. but different kinds of bari
usually get somewhat mixed in the pack
ages,
Before the rainy season commences
about the last of September or in October
the camp is broken up, and the who'll
party start for the ten days jOurne,
home. The mules carry the bark, thre
quintals being lawful mule-load in tn
Andes, although in descending the steel
eastern slope mules can lawfully carr.
but $50 pounds each.
There are many accidents and disease
which affect stock and cause serious in
convenience and loss to the farmer il
his work, which may be quickly RENE
died by the use of DIR. j. II. Mclean
Volcanic Oil Liniment.
Music and the Emotions.
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